Dream assignment (for a PHOTOGRAPHER). Local Reporter gets Assigned usual Crap.

By Scott NeufeldTuesday, August 1, 2006





Dream Assignment Photographers are rarely asked to take on dangerous assignments but local shutterbug Roger Tepper books holiday time every summer, putting himself in jeopardy to capture the perfect shot. The freelancer, who also takes photos for the Daily Courier, was on assignment at the Edmonton Grand Prix two weeks ago capturing the action of the Champ Car World Series (CART) for Toronto-based Inside Track magazine. “It was awesome; it’s my favourite shoot of the year,” he said. “This is the second year it’s been in Edmonton and it’s been great.”Over the course of a race weekend he said he will shoot between 4,000 and 6,000 photos. This year he took a lot of shots of his favourite driver, Canadian Paul Tracy, as well as defending series champion Sebastien Bourdais of France and Hollywood actor and race car owner Paul Newman.Every photographer has a niche, whether it be shooting landscapes or animals and Tepper said he loves taking photos of high-speed sports. Whether it’s car racing or other events, what catches his eye is the thrill of acceleration.“I like to get good sports pics where someone in the sport is really accelerating,” he said. “If I can capture that moment on film that’s what I really strive for.”Snaring the perfect racing shot can be dangerous for the photographer. Tepper said he gets as close to the action as possible by getting out onto the tarmac or into the pits where drivers have their tires changed and cars refueled.“I came behind a car when the car was taking off because I thought it would make a great shot,” he said. “The fuel they use it burns your eyes, when he took off I couldn’t see for like 15 seconds.”During qualifying for last year’s event Tepper managed to capture some of his most memorable pictures. He was the only photographer to capture a crash between two cars that shoved the concrete barrier back about three feet and sprayed him with debris.“That’s why you’re not allowed to put your gear on the slabs and lean on it,” he said. “(The concrete slab) goes on top of your foot very easily.”A life-long racing fan, Tepper said he first started shooting races when the Molson Indy Vancouver started in 1990. Until the event shut down in 2004 and moved to Edmonton the next year, he said he missed only one race – to attend his sister’s wedding. “As long as the series is going, that’s my holiday every year,” he said. “My holiday is based around CART racing and fishing.”“One of my goals is to do a NASCAR event just for the excitement, just for the crowd, just for the atmosphere,” he said. http://www.dailycourier.ca/article_413.php